Scottish Executive

Access for Disabled People

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28895 by Ms Margaret Curran on 18 October 2002, whether it will define "reasonable adjustments" required to the physical features of premises to overcome physical barriers to access in relation to existing sheriff courts in historic/category B listed buildings.

Ms Margaret Curran: There are no plans to provide a further definition of "reasonable adjustments" for a sheriff court or any other public building. Given the wide range of disabilities and the disparate nature of each building this would not be practicable. Ultimately it will be for the courts to decide on how the legislation should be interpreted in individual cases.

Audiology

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with the review of audiology services.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30980 on 19 November 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Cancer

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when liquid-based cytology for cervical smears will be available throughout all NHS board areas.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding is in place to ensure the implementation of the liquid-based cytology programme throughout all NHS board areas in the current and future financial years.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: It is expected that liquid-based cytology (LBC) will be fully introduced into the cervical screening programme in Scotland by April 2004.

  To assist with the introduction of LBC the Scottish Executive has provided up to £2.75 million for the set-up costs which consists of either the capital or first-year leasing costs of processing machinery and the associated training and proficiency costs. The on-going costs are part of the cervical screening programme funding which is the responsibility of NHS boards and trusts.

Cancer

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are sufficient cervical cytologists throughout all NHS board areas to implement fully the liquid-based cytology programme.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: At present cytoscreener staffing levels across Scotland are sufficient to meet the needs of the cervical screening programme. It is not anticipated that additional cervical screening laboratory professionals - above the agreed staffing levels - will be required as a result of introducing liquid-based cytology (LBC) into the cervical screening programme. It is expected that LBC will reduce the workload and improve laboratory smear reporting times.

  The introduction of LBC will be closely monitored by the NHSScotland Screening Programmes and the Scottish Executive Health Department.

Civil Registration

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes are planned to the information collected as part of the registration of people in Scotland and what organisations have been consulted in respect of any such changes.

Mr Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19634 on 5 November 2001, in which I announced that the Registrar General had published his proposals from the consultation Civil Registration in the 21st Century . That consultation involved a wide range of organisations and encouraged responses from local authorities, registrars, churches, community councils, genealogists and others.

  The Registrar General's proposals included the possibility of requiring certain additional information to be given when registering a birth, death or marriage. He gave as an example the recording of the date of birth of parents when registering the birth of their child. This could facilitate family history searches at a later date. The Registrar General is considering this matter and an announcement will be made in due course.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Community Safety

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent assessment has been made of the impact of closed circuit television (CCTV) systems on levels of street crime in (a) Scotland, (b) Renfrewshire and (c) Paisley North.

Dr Richard Simpson: We are not aware of any recent assessment of the impact of closed circuit television systems on levels of street crime commissioned centrally or by another research body in the areas referred to in the question. We have, however, received evaluations of the implementation of CCTV in Paisley Town Centre, Johnstone Town Centre and Renfrew Town Centre.

  In the main the evaluations refer to the increased likelihood of detection of perpetrators; the ability of operators to spot potential incidents before they develop; clearer descriptions of perpetrators; accused being more likely to plead guilty if caught on camera; police confidence in the system, and calmer feeling in the town centres.

Drug Education

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a national evaluation of drug education policy.

Cathy Jamieson: Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) is currently undertaking a thematic review to report in 2003 which will provide a snapshot of the quality of drug education programmes in schools. This will build on HMIE's earlier work, Drug and Nutrition Education: A Study of Provision in Schools and Community Education, published in 1999.

  In line with the recommendations of the School Drug Safety Team, we will be commissioning a research project in 2003 on the outcomes of educating young people on drug-related issues. Research will seek to identify both the short- and long-term impact of school drug education.

Dyslexia

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to school age children with dyslexia.

Cathy Jamieson: Under existing legislation (section 1 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980), education authorities across Scotland must make provision for pupils with special educational needs, including dyslexia. It is therefore the statutory responsibility of the education authority to ensure that schools are adequately resourced, and that staff are properly trained to support pupils with dyslexia. Schools will use a range of strategies to support children according to each child’s individual needs.

  The Scottish Executive has issued guidance on educational provision and support for pupils with special educational needs, including dyslexia. The guidance, Circular ED 4/96 Children and Young Persons with Special Educational Needs – Assessment and Recording, and the Manual of Good Practice in Special Educational Needs, has been disseminated widely, including to all local authorities and schools. Both documents are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. numbers 4386 and 3984). In addition, a number of local authorities issue guidance specifically on dyslexia to schools in their area.

Employment

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will contact Jones & Campbell Ltd in Larbert to discuss the company's proposed closure and to offer assistance in exploring every possible alternative to closure.

Iain Gray: Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley has already met with Jones & Campbell. During the meeting which took place this month, the company indicated that there was no alternative to closure due to disappearing markets and the high cost of operations. Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley plan to meet again with the company in December and, subject to the outcome of any consultation process on closure, will put in place full PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) support for those employees who are made redundant.

Employment

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take urgent action to help generate employment in the Larbert area, in view of the proposed closure of Jones & Campbell Ltd's foundry with the possible loss of 250 jobs.

Iain Gray: Local agencies will meet this challenge through the implementation of the Falkirk Action Plan to be launched shortly. It will set out an ambitious response to stimulate new investment over the next three years and beyond within the context of A Smart, Successful Scotland.  The plan aims to create an additional 4,250 jobs in the Falkirk area.

Environment

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is in respect of apportionment applications in Environmentally Sensitive Area schemes on common grazings in relation to regulations that pertain to particular common grazings.

Ross Finnie: Policy in respect of apportionment’ applications is a matter for the Crofters’ Commission. The Executive is responsible for the administration of the Environmentally Sensitive Area schemes. The conditions of any Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme agreement, which may exist in relation to a common grazings, apply to all of the land and to all of the crofters who are members of the common grazings while the agreement is in force.

European Union

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any specific individual member of staff based in its European office in Scotland House, Brussels, has responsibility for press and media activity and, if so, what that person’s remit is.

Mr Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to his question S1W-30550 on 28 October 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Ferry Services

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29677 by Ross Finnie on 2 October 2002, whether it has had any further discussions with Superfast Ferries regarding implementation of the pet passport scheme on the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry route.

Ross Finnie: Officials still await receipt of Superfast Ferries’ proposed methods of operation for the carriage of pet dogs and cats. Discussions will resume once these have been received and evaluated.

Firearms

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any recent discussions with Her Majesty’s Government regarding the sale and use of BB guns in Scotland.

Mr Jim Wallace: Scottish Executive officials are in regular contact with the Home Office to discuss a wide range of firearm issues, including the misuse of air weapons and airsoft weapons such as BB guns.

Firearms

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances foreign security personnel visiting Scotland are given permission to carry firearms, detailing where the authority lies for granting such permission.

Mr Jim Wallace: Arrangements for permission for foreign security personnel to carry firearms are a reserved matter for which the Home Secretary is responsible.

Firearms

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions this year members of foreign security personnel have been given permission to carry firearms in Scotland.

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the countries of origin were of foreign security personnel that have been given permission to carry firearms in Scotland in each of the last three years.

Mr Jim Wallace: Permission for foreign security personnel to carry firearms is a reserved matter for which the Home Secretary is responsible.

Genetically Modified Crops

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many landfill sites are licensed to accept plants harvested from GM crop trials.

Ross Finnie: The information is not held centrally. As agricultural waste, plants harvested from GM crop trials would be exempt from waste management controls under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (as amended), and so would not generally be the subject of landfill license conditions. However, under the standard terms of the deliberate release consent issued by Scottish ministers under that act, disposal of harvested plants within the UK must be in a local authority landfill site under the assurance that the material will be incorporated in a manner to prevent growth into flowering plants.

Genetically Modified Crops

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it will make to Her Majesty’s Government in the light of comments made by Professor Malcolm Grant that there will not be enough government funding available to carry out a full public consultation on GM crops.

Ross Finnie: Professor Grant and the steering board that is leading this element of the public debate are currently preparing a detailed programme deploying the considerable amount of public funding that has been made available for this purpose.

  The Scottish Executive and the other UK administrations are committed to a meaningful debate that gets to the root of what matters to the public about the issues raised by the possible commercialisation of GM crops. We believe that the budget that has been provided is commensurate with this aim. The conclusions of the debate will be invaluable in assisting ministers when the results of the current farm-scale evaluations are considered and when future decisions on possible commercialisation need to be taken.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29804 by Mrs Mary Mulligan on 7 October 2002, what timescale has been set for considering the inclusion of support tights in the Scottish Drug Tariff.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Consideration will be given to whether an application for inclusion of support tights on the Scottish Drug Tariff is appropriate as soon as officials have gathered the relevant information. It is not possible to give a definitive timescale.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current budget and staffing levels are for the Quality and Standards Board for Health in Scotland.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget for the Quality and Standards Board for Health in Scotland will be in (a) 2003-04 and (b) 2004-05.

Malcolm Chisholm: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (formerly called the Quality and Standards Board for Health in Scotland) will come into existence, subject to parliamentary approval, on 1 January 2003.

  NHS Quality Improvement Scotland will be created through the merger of five organisations: the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland, the Health Technology Board for Scotland, the Scottish Health Advisory Service, the Nursing and Midwifery Practice Development Unit, and the Clinical Audit and Resource Group. The combined budget of these organisations in 2002-03 is £9.7 million and they employ around 105 staff.

  NHS Quality Improvement Scotland’s budget for 2003-04 and 2004-05 is still to be determined. The board will assess any need for additional funding to undertake new tasks it has been asked to deliver.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Quality and Standards Board For Health in Scotland will set both generic standards for mental health services and specific standards recognising the differences in diagnostic groups.

Malcolm Chisholm: In advance of the establishment of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland and the Scottish Health Advisory Service have convened a working group to produce a set of integrated core standards for mental health services to which specific standards for diagnostic groups can be added.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Quality and Standards Board for Health in Scotland will carry out comprehensive assessments of mental health services across an NHS board area.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the Quality and Standards Board for Health in Scotland will focus on both process and outcome when assessing mental health services.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the Quality and Standards Board for Health in Scotland include the views of patients and their carers when conducting assessments of mental health services.

Malcolm Chisholm: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland will, as a priority, determine its approach to assessing mental health services, building upon the experience of the Scottish Health Advisory Service and the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland. This will result in the publication of both local (NHS board) and national reports and will focus on both process and outcome. Assessments will include the views of patients and carers.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Quality and Standards Board for Health in Scotland will determine acceptable standards of service provision and how it intends to monitor compliance with those standards.

Malcolm Chisholm: Standards will be based on the evidence of what is clinically effective and on wide consultation with health care professional staff and users and carers. Compliance with standards will be monitored by a combination of written evidence and visits by teams comprising health care professional staff and members of the public.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what correspondence it has received concerning the anti-depressant Seroxat and its suitability for prescription by the NHS.

Malcolm Chisholm: The regulation and safety of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA).

  Since 1 July 1999, the Executive has received 14 letters from MSPs and members of the public about Seroxat. These were answered on the basis of information supplied by the MCA.

  The answer given to question S1W-30722 on 28 October 2002 gives further information about the advice available to prescribers about the use of Seroxat. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Health

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to improve the training of GPs and other health care professionals in palliative care.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: On training for GPs, at present, GPs are expected to look after their own personal learning needs to better provide for the health needs of their patients and to seek training accordingly. Guidance and assistance is available to GPs from NHS Education for Scotland via the Postgraduate Directors of General Practice Education.

  The training of other health care professionals is a matter for NHS trusts at local level to determine. The additional investment to implement the cancer plan has been used by some areas to support the development of training in palliative care for health care professionals, including nurses. The involvement of members of the primary care team in Managed Clinical Networks for palliative care will also help with awareness and training.

  Clinical Standards Board for Scotland cancer standards include the core standard that all health care professionals in cancer services undergo continuing education and training including the principles and philosophy of palliative care.

Historic Scotland

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans for a review of Historic Scotland.

Dr Elaine Murray: In their response to the Public Appointments (Scotland) Bill, the Education, Culture and Sport Committee asked Scottish ministers to review the roles and responsibilities of Historic Scotland. Ministers are actively considering this request and will respond to the committee in advance of the Stage 2 discussions on the bill.

Hospices

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce match funding to hospice centres by providing 50% of their on-going costs.

Malcolm Chisholm: Arrangements for the funding of adult voluntary hospices remain as set out in Management Executive Letter (1994)104. NHS boards are expected, taking account of local circumstances, to fund 50% of hospice's annual running costs. The Executive continuously monitors boards’ performances against that target, and is currently in discussion with the adult voluntary hospices about issuing further advice designed to clarify the agreed elements of hospices’ running costs which would be eligible for 50% funding.

Interception of Communication

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in Scotland were the subject of interception of communications warrants in each of the last three years, and what information it has on how many of the 1,314 authorisations for interception of communications granted by the Home Secretary in 2001 were in respect of people resident in Scotland.

Mr Jim Wallace: Information regarding the number of interception of communication warrants issued is contained in the reports of the Interception of Communications Commissioner, which are laid before Parliament annually and are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre. The latest report, for 2001, was laid in the Parliament on 31 October 2002 (Bib. number 24816).

  We have no information on how many of the 1,314 interception warrants authorised by the Home Secretary in 2001 were in respect of people resident in Scotland. The issue of such warrants is a reserved matter.

Justice

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many reports of offences under section 52 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 have been made to procurators fiscal in each of the last three years, broken down by sheriff court area.

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many reports sent to procurators fiscal under section 52 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 were proceeded with in each of the last three years, broken down by sheriff court area.

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many convictions have been obtained under section 52 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 in each of the last three years, broken down by sheriff court area.

Mrs Elish Angiolini: Information is available from the Crown Office system about the number of cases received by procurators fiscal during the last three financial years that included charges under the section mentioned. Information is not available from that system in relation to the outcome of every such charge as only whole case outcomes are currently recorded.

  Some information is available from published Scottish Executive statistics about persons proceeded against and convicted where the main charge in the case was a contravention of the section mentioned. It should be noted that where a person is proceeded against for more that one crime or offence, only the "main charge" is recorded for Scottish Executive statistical purposes in these statistics. The main charge is that which is the most serious and receives the severest penalty. In addition, the information is collected by calendar year and is available for calendar years up to the end of 2000. It is not therefore possible to relate the Crown Office data on incoming cases to the Scottish Executive data on proceedings and disposals.

  The information described is provided in the following tables.

  Cases Reported to Procurators Fiscal which Included Charges Under the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, Section 52, 1999-2000 to 2001-02

  


Office 
  

Financial Year
1999-2000 
  

Financial Year
2000-01 
  

Financial Year
2001-02 
  



Aberdeen 
  

494 
  

416 
  

386 
  



Airdrie 
  

207 
  

251 
  

229 
  



Arbroath 
  

149 
  

135 
  

166 
  



Ayr 
  

268 
  

264 
  

308 
  



Banff 
  

31 
  

7 
  

- 
  



Campbeltown 
  

24 
  

18 
  

29 
  



Cupar 
  

105 
  

104 
  

121 
  



Dingwall 
  

65 
  

92 
  

72 
  



Dornoch 
  

22 
  

12 
  

20 
  



Dumbarton 
  

212 
  

129 
  

184 
  



Dumfries 
  

113 
  

138 
  

130 
  



Dundee 
  

296 
  

318 
  

363 
  



Dunfermline 
  

256 
  

284 
  

293 
  



Dunoon 
  

37 
  

33 
  

34 
  



Duns 
  

25 
  

25 
  

45 
  



Edinburgh 
  

330 
  

230 
  

451 
  



Elgin 
  

193 
  

179 
  

230 
  



Falkirk 
  

289 
  

252 
  

373 
  



Forfar 
  

99 
  

92 
  

84 
  



Fort William 
  

60 
  

55 
  

76 
  



Glasgow 
  

927 
  

944 
  

979 
  



Greenock 
  

109 
  

129 
  

131 
  



Haddington 
  

65 
  

50 
  

51 
  



Hamilton 
  

479 
  

461 
  

491 
  



Inverness 
  

256 
  

292 
  

324 
  



Jedburgh 
  

97 
  

83 
  

148 
  



Kilmarnock 
  

321 
  

327 
  

386 
  



Kirkcaldy 
  

265 
  

326 
  

314 
  



Kirkcudbright 
  

26 
  

33 
  

23 
  



Kirkwall 
  

28 
  

48 
  

34 
  



Lanark 
  

81 
  

72 
  

87 
  



Lerwick 
  

34 
  

44 
  

43 
  



Linlithgow 
  

157 
  

194 
  

246 
  



Lochmaddy 
  

9 
  

6 
  

8 
  



Oban 
  

43 
  

30 
  

34 
  



Paisley 
  

309 
  

272 
  

295 
  



Peebles 
  

8 
  

5 
  

22 
  



Perth 
  

190 
  

199 
  

250 
  



Peterhead 
  

72 
  

87 
  

73 
  



Portree 
  

15 
  

27 
  

23 
  



Rothesay 
  

9 
  

11 
  

19 
  



Selkirk 
  

35 
  

49 
  

123 
  



Stirling 
  

127 
  

167 
  

230 
  



Stonehaven 
  

71 
  

80 
  

60 
  



Stornoway 
  

34 
  

39 
  

19 
  



Stranraer 
  

47 
  

46 
  

46 
  



Tain 
  

75 
  

70 
  

81 
  



Wick 
  

53 
  

49 
  

57 
  



Total 
  

7,217 
  

7,174 
  

8,191 
  



  Source: Crown Office.

  Note: the information for PF Alloa is not available.

  Persons Proceeded Against Where Main Charge for Vandalism Offences Under Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 - Section 52, by Court, 1998-2000

  


Year of Sentence 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  



All courts 
  

4,226 
  

3,804 
  

3,664 
  



High 
  

Edinburgh 
  

- 
  

1 
  

- 
  



Sheriff
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Aberdeen 
  

87 
  

74 
  

55 
  



Airdrie 
  

59 
  

33 
  

33 
  



Alloa 
  

24 
  

17 
  

21 
  



Arbroath 
  

21 
  

24 
  

27 
  



Ayr 
  

94 
  

74 
  

83 
  



Banff 
  

10 
  

17 
  

6 
  



Campbeltown 
  

7 
  

6 
  

4 
  



Cupar 
  

22 
  

16 
  

15 
  



Dingwall 
  

11 
  

11 
  

12 
  



Dornoch 
  

3 
  

6 
  

6 
  



Dumbarton 
  

45 
  

48 
  

56 
  



Dumfries 
  

39 
  

31 
  

35 
  



Dundee 
  

49 
  

69 
  

67 
  



Dunfermline 
  

54 
  

47 
  

50 
  



Dunoon 
  

13 
  

11 
  

9 
  



Duns 
  

8 
  

17 
  

2 
  



Edinburgh 
  

40 
  

62 
  

96 
  



Elgin 
  

45 
  

30 
  

23 
  



Falkirk 
  

51 
  

59 
  

54 
  



Forfar 
  

8 
  

15 
  

26 
  



Fort William 
  

22 
  

17 
  

4 
  



Glasgow 
  

115 
  

134 
  

154 
  



Greenock 
  

44 
  

33 
  

39 
  



Haddington 
  

5 
  

14 
  

7 
  



Hamilton 
  

102 
  

87 
  

97 
  



Inverness 
  

45 
  

40 
  

34 
  



Jedburgh 
  

13 
  

29 
  

30 
  



Kilmarnock 
  

105 
  

96 
  

84 
  



Kirkcaldy 
  

38 
  

36 
  

40 
  



Kirkcudbright 
  

8 
  

5 
  

8 
  



Kirkwall 
  

12 
  

10 
  

12 
  



Lanark 
  

24 
  

34 
  

25 
  



Lerwick 
  

22 
  

22 
  

11 
  



Linlithgow 
  

42 
  

31 
  

37 
  



Lochmaddy 
  

4 
  

4 
  

- 
  



Oban 
  

28 
  

25 
  

12 
  



Paisley 
  

67 
  

63 
  

62 
  



Peebles 
  

1 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Perth 
  

29 
  

35 
  

23 
  



Peterhead 
  

22 
  

24 
  

11 
  



Portree 
  

1 
  

- 
  

1 
  



Rothesay 
  

5 
  

4 
  

8 
  



Selkirk 
  

2 
  

4 
  

7 
  



Stirling 
  

29 
  

48 
  

31 
  



Stonehaven 
  

12 
  

7 
  

9 
  



Stornoway 
  

13 
  

3 
  

5 
  



Stranraer 
  

10 
  

5 
  

8 
  



Tain 
  

17 
  

7 
  

3 
  



Wick 
  

8 
  

5 
  

4 
  



District 
  

2,544 
  

2,202 
  

2,152 
  



Stipendiary Magistrate 
  

147 
  

112 
  

66 
  



  Source: Scottish Executive Justice Department.

  Persons with a Charge Proved Where Main Charge for Vandalism Offences Under Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 - Section 52, by Court, 1998-2000

  


Year of Sentence 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  



All courts 
  

3,595 
  

3,213 
  

3,069 
  



High 
  

Edinburgh 
  

- 
  

1 
  

- 
  



Sheriff
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Aberdeen 
  

84 
  

65 
  

45 
  



Airdrie 
  

42 
  

26 
  

22 
  



Alloa 
  

21 
  

16 
  

18 
  



Arbroath 
  

20 
  

21 
  

23 
  



Ayr 
  

80 
  

57 
  

63 
  



Banff 
  

10 
  

16 
  

6 
  



Campbeltown 
  

6 
  

6 
  

4 
  



Cupar 
  

19 
  

15 
  

13 
  



Dingwall 
  

11 
  

9 
  

12 
  



Dornoch 
  

3 
  

4 
  

6 
  



Dumbarton 
  

27 
  

29 
  

36 
  



Dumfries 
  

30 
  

26 
  

27 
  



Dundee 
  

42 
  

54 
  

47 
  



Dunfermline 
  

43 
  

38 
  

44 
  



Dunoon 
  

11 
  

8 
  

6 
  



Duns 
  

7 
  

17 
  

2 
  



Edinburgh 
  

36 
  

57 
  

89 
  



Elgin 
  

43 
  

26 
  

20 
  



Falkirk 
  

41 
  

49 
  

48 
  



Forfar 
  

8 
  

13 
  

24 
  



Fort William 
  

21 
  

16 
  

2 
  



Glasgow 
  

74 
  

74 
  

89 
  



Greenock 
  

37 
  

22 
  

31 
  



Haddington 
  

5 
  

12 
  

7 
  



Hamilton 
  

67 
  

61 
  

66 
  



Inverness 
  

34 
  

36 
  

30 
  



Jedburgh 
  

13 
  

29 
  

30 
  



Kilmarnock 
  

87 
  

84 
  

66 
  



Kirkcaldy 
  

32 
  

31 
  

37 
  



Kirkcudbright 
  

7 
  

5 
  

7 
  



Kirkwall 
  

12 
  

9 
  

12 
  



Lanark 
  

22 
  

30 
  

20 
  



Lerwick 
  

21 
  

20 
  

11 
  



Linlithgow 
  

36 
  

27 
  

34 
  



Lochmaddy 
  

3 
  

4 
  

- 
  



Oban 
  

26 
  

20 
  

7 
  



Paisley 
  

42 
  

46 
  

38 
  



Peebles 
  

1 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Perth 
  

26 
  

26 
  

15 
  



Peterhead 
  

21 
  

21 
  

10 
  



Portree 
  

1 
  

- 
  

1 
  



Rothesay 
  

5 
  

3 
  

5 
  



Selkirk 
  

2 
  

4 
  

7 
  



Stirling 
  

24 
  

40 
  

30 
  



Stonehaven 
  

11 
  

7 
  

8 
  



Stornoway 
  

12 
  

3 
  

5 
  



Stranraer 
  

8 
  

5 
  

7 
  



Tain 
  

16 
  

6 
  

3 
  



Wick 
  

6 
  

5 
  

3 
  



District 
  

2,204 
  

1,920 
  

1,874 
  



Stipendiary Magistrate 
  

135 
  

94 
  

59 
  



  Source: Scottish Executive Justice Department.

Justice

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why no attempt was made to arrest the former Israeli Defence Force Chief of Staff General Mofaz for crimes against humanity, in the light of the representations made to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice on this matter.

Mr Jim Wallace: I am not aware of any representations made in person to me on this matter.

Local Government Elections

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will simplify the procedures for holding all-postal by-elections, for example by removing the necessity for a local authority to seek permission from it to hold a by-election in this way.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Local Government (Elections) Act 2002 allows ministers to extend successful pilots throughout Scotland by order. As only three pilots have been run to date, the Executive believes that it needs to secure more experience in order to determine best practice and decide whether all-postal voting should be extended to all local authorities. There are therefore no current plans to simplify procedures or give local authorities the right to decide whether council by-elections should be held by postal ballot only. The Executive has ensured that the process of applying to run a pilot is not arduous and that applications are dealt with quickly.

Ministerial Correspondence

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will reply to my letter of 28 August 2002 to the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport about the Area Tourist Board review.

Mike Watson: Your letter was passed to the Area Tourist Board review team who acknowledged it on 18 September 2002 as a response to the review. We have received well over 300 such responses and at this stage have simply acknowledged each one, although we plan to publish a summary of responses in due course. However, I will write to you soon to respond to the points raised in your letter.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-29470, S1W-29471, S1W-29510 and S1W-29527 by Mr Jim Wallace on 2 October 2002, why no information is available on the number of prisoners that have a mental illness requiring medical treatment.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Mainly because of the constantly changing prison population.

Public Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28643 by Lewis Macdonald on 4 October 2002, how much has been spent under public transport funding grants by each local authority in each of the last three years; what amounts have been earmarked and committed, and whether there was any underspend or uncommitted funding by any authority.

Lewis Macdonald: Total funding committed by the Scottish Executive in the last three years to each local authority under the Public Transport Fund, the Integrated Transport Fund and the Rural Public Passenger Grant element of the Rural Transport Fund was provided in the answer given to question S1W-28643. The information on actual spend requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Rail Services

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the reletting of the rail franchise in Scotland, what consideration it has given to the introduction of rail services that stop at Laurencekirk station and what the outcome was of any such consideration.

Lewis Macdonald: Proposals to reopen a particular station are matters for the local transport authority or transport partnership.

  The Scottish Executive’s Directions and Guidance (D&G) to the Strategic Rail Authority set out ministers’ high level priorities for the next Scottish passenger rail franchise. They did not include details of specific services.

  Under the terms of the D&G, the current level of service is to be the starting point for bids. However, bidders will be able to offer suggested improvements if they wish and will be encouraged to discuss their bids with key stakeholders. The next franchise will be capable of being enhanced over time as the railway is developed.

  A copy of the D&G is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 22122).

Rail Services

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) ScotRail, (b) the Strategic Rail Authority, (c) North East Scotland Transport Partnership and (d) Railtrack or its successor body about the reopening of Laurencekirk station.

Lewis Macdonald: Proposals to reopen a particular station are for the local transport authority or transport partnership. In this case any such proposals would, therefore, be for Aberdeenshire Council or NESTRANS to bring forward.

Rail Services

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what power it has to issue guidance or directions to the Strategic Rail Authority on the specific rail enhancement projects that the authority will include in its forthcoming 10-year plan.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive’s powers to issue directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority are set out in section 208 of the Transport Act 2000.

Rail Services

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to the Strategic Rail Authority in support of commitments in the authority's 10-year plan to the upgrading of Edinburgh Waverley Station, the restoration of rail services to the Borders and the building of rail connections to Glasgow and Edinburgh airports.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Strategic Rail Authority on a wide range of issues, including Waverley Station, rail services to the Borders and rail connections to Glasgow and Edinburgh airports.

Rail Services

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will fund the Edinburgh to London sleeper service in the new franchise for passenger rail services.

Lewis Macdonald: The existing level of service is to be the baseline for bids for the next Scottish passenger rail franchise. Subject to relevant spending constraints, it is intended that the baseline will be maintained and developed in the next franchise.

Roads

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when construction of the Ardrossan to Saltcoats to Stevenston bypass will begin and when the road is expected to be operational.

Lewis Macdonald: Tenders are due to be issued this month to construct the Ardrossan to Stevenston Bypass and work is expected to begin in summer 2003. The road will be open to traffic in 2005.

Roads

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-30960 by Lewis Macdonald on 6 November 2002, whether any form of upgraded A80 would still be considered part of the existing trunk road network after completion and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Lewis Macdonald: An upgraded A80 would still form part of the trunk road network.

Roads

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-30960 by Lewis Macdonald on 6 November 2002, what powers it has to introduce legislation in regard to bringing in toll charges on the existing trunk road network and whether it will rule out introducing any such legislation, giving the reasons for its position on this matter.

Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30960 on 6 November 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Roads

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to require trunk road maintenance contractors to remove or cover up temporary speed restriction signs when the contractors do not intend to work immediately on a given section of road.

Lewis Macdonald: Trunk road maintenance contractors are required to comply with the requirements of Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual , "Traffic Safety Measures and Signs for Roadworks and Temporary Situations", which includes the use of temporary mandatory speed limits. These speed limits are often necessary to protect the workforce and drivers during roadworks particularly when the available width for traffic is restricted by traffic cones. For this reason speed limits are often left in place when no work is being carried out, and we have no plans to alter procedures in such circumstances.

Rural Development

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it had in the eviction of the tenants of Powhillon Farm, Dumfriesshire on 15 June 1999.

Ross Finnie: None.

Rural Development

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what complaints from interested parties (a) it, (b) its executive agencies, (c) non-departmental public bodies and (d) relevant police forces have received with regard to the eviction of the tenants of Powhillon Farm, Dumfriesshire on 15 June 1999; what the outcome of any such complaints has been, and what complaints are still being investigated.

Ross Finnie: Complaints were received from relatives of the tenant involved in the eviction. These were investigated but found to be without substance. No outstanding complaints are under investigation.

Sexual Offences

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29187 by Mr Jim Wallace on 11 October 2002, whether any external evaluation of police training programmes for the investigation of rape and sexual assaults has taken place, who carried out any such evaluation, and what the outcome was.

Mr Jim Wallace: Each of the Scottish Police College’s training programmes is subject to a continuous evaluation and review process.

  A quality assurance committee reviews all the outputs of training design and examines the detail of evaluations. The membership of that committee comprises representatives of the Scottish Executive, the police staff associations, the college and an independent person.

  In addition, a number of college courses are validated by higher education institutions and this validation requires the whole training and evaluation process to be examined to ensure a high quality.

  The colleges procedures and performance generally are regularly reviewed by a number of external bodies including Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, the Audit Commission, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland as customers and by the review processes contained in the charter mark, Investors in People and the European Foundation for Quality Management.

Sexual Offences

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what evaluation is made of training programmes for the investigation of rape and sexual assaults provided by individual police forces; when any such evaluations were carried out in each force; who carried out the evaluation, and what the outcome was.

Mr Jim Wallace: Evaluation of the training provided by individual police forces is carried out by members of the force staff who have had no input to the training courses. Questionnaires are used to elicit information about participants’ satisfaction with the course content in relation to the quality of presentation, achievement of learning outcomes and about whether the course was appropriate and challenging. The evaluation process is continuous. The outcome from each evaluation is used to inform assessments about the quality of the training provided.

Sexual Offences

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of crime has been estimated as being drug related in each of the last five years in K division of Strathclyde Police.

Dr Richard Simpson: While Scottish Police Forces record details of all drugs offences committed within their areas, statistics are not routinely recorded in respect of those crimes which it is suspected may be drug related.

Smoking

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to allow dentists to prescribe nicotine replacement therapy and other pharmacological aids to stopping smoking such as bupropion.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: There are no current plans to do so.

Special Advisers

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29152 by Mr Andy Kerr on 11 October 2002, whether Mr John McTernan sought permission to take up a post with the Scottish Arts Council at any time in the last six months and, if so and permission was given, what the reason was for giving such permission.

Mr Andy Kerr: The answer given to question S1W-29152 explained the rules on the acceptance of business appointments within two years of leaving Crown employment. Former special advisers are subject to the rules and it is for their judgement whether, in the circumstances, agreement should be sought. Mr John McTernan did not do so in this case and I am not aware that he is engaged in anything which would have required agreement.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have visited Scotland on holiday to participate in outdoor pursuits in each year since 1997.

Mike Watson: Figures prior to 2000 are not available. The information requested for the years since 2000 is as follows.

  Participation in Outdoor Activity

  

 

Activity at All during Trip 
  

Activity as Main Part of Trip 
  



All Visits Trips (million) 
  

Holiday Visits Trips (million) 
  

All Visits Trips (million) 
  

Holiday Visits Trips (million) 
  



2000 
  

11.6 
  

9.1 
  

1.9 
  

1.6 
  



2001 
  

11.0 
  

8.3 
  

1.3 
  

1.2

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it was first consulted by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport regarding the changes to the British Tourist Authority (BTA) and, in particular, the combination of functions of the BTA with the English Tourism Council; what representations it has made and to whom on this matter; when it advised and sought the views of VisitScotland on this matter; what amendments it or VisitScotland proposed to the changes; which such amendments were accepted by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), and when, and by whom, it was advised of the final proposals.

Mike Watson: The Executive keeps in close touch with DCMS on a range of issues, including tourism. As they are obliged to do under the terms of the Concordat between the two departments, DCMS gave the Executive advance notice of their proposals for changes to the structure of the BTA, and these were the subject of discussion at both ministerial and official level before they were finalised. The Executive kept VisitScotland informed accordingly.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes will be made to the memorandum of understanding between the British Tourist Authority (BTA) and VisitScotland following the recent combination of functions of the BTA with the English Tourism Council.

Mike Watson: The memorandum of understanding between VisitScotland and the BTA will be reviewed by these bodies in the light of the recent announcement about changes to the structure of the BTA. It is too early to say what changes might be necessary as a result of that review.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive in what way the British Tourist Authority (BTA) will be accountable to the Parliament and what representation it will have on the new BTA or its committees.

Mike Watson: The Executive has agreed with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) that the BTA will in future report on, and account for, its overseas marketing activities entirely separately from its new responsibilities for marketing England, and that the former report and accounts will be laid before the Parliament each year. In addition, the Executive will be consulted by DCMS on the new management statement that will set out the BTA’s revised structure and modus operandi, while the Chairman of VisitScotland will continue to be a board member of the BTA.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to direct the British Tourist Authority (BTA) over its marketing budgets for overseas campaigns and what input it or VisitScotland will have on this issue.

Mike Watson: The Executive will be consulted by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the new management statement that will set out the BTA’s revised structure and modus operandi. It has always been the BTA’s practice to consult with VisitScotland on the detail of its overseas marketing campaigns, and the new management statement will set out how this close co-operation will continue as a result of the restructuring of the BTA recently announced by DCMS.

Transport

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the current statistics on which it will assess whether target 1 of objective 1 in the transport section of its Draft Budget 2003-04 has been met.

Lewis Macdonald: No statistics that directly cover journey times are currently available. In autumn 2002, the Executive commissioned a study and field trials to investigate the potential methods which could be used to monitor this objective. The results of the study will be available before the end of 2002. This will allow decisions as to the most appropriate monitoring methodology to be taken early in 2003, with data collection commencing in spring/summer 2003. Data will be published when they are available.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whom it consulted about any restriction of the extension of the public service obligation for the Glasgow to Barra air link to one year; whether the continuation of the air link is related to the introduction of the new Sound of Barra ferry service; whether it will give a commitment to ensuring that an air service from Barra will be maintained beyond the one-year extension of the current public service obligation; whether the Glasgow to Barra air link could be maintained without a public service obligation, and what the reasons are for its position on these matters.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive consulted Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Western Isles Enterprise and local Barra interests on the continued imposition of a public service obligation on the Barra to Glasgow air service. The Executive wishes to ensure that the air service continues to be tenable given the enhanced ferry service to be introduced in summer 2003. It will therefore conduct a strategic review in September 2003 to determine the future of the air service in light of the impact of these improvements.

Voluntary Sector

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will require local authorities, as part of match-funding schemes, to show how local voluntary organisations have been involved.

Ms Margaret Curran: It is for local authorities to determine how they engage with the voluntary sector. However, the Executive would always encourage local authorities and other public bodies, wherever appropriate, to involve the sector in the development and delivery of their policies and programmes.

Water Safety

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of cryptosporidium has to be for public health officials to recommend boiling water for consumption.

Ross Finnie: Following events in August the Minister for Health and Community Care asked Professor Ian Bouchier to reconvene the Expert Group of Cryptosporidium in Water Supplies to re-examine a range of issues including the point you raise. Professor Bouchier concluded that, and I quote from his letter of 31 October to the Minister for Health and Community Care, "whenever oocysts ( Cryptosporidium ) are detected or suspected of contaminating a drinking water supply any actions or decisions must be based on local risk assessment, knowledge and experience". In the light of this advice there are no prescribed levels of cryptosporidium required for the issuing of a boil water notice.

Youth Crime

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) 16- and (b) 17-year-olds appeared in court and, of these, how many had (i) their sentence deferred, (ii) a monetary penalty imposed, (iii) a community service or probation order imposed and (iv) a custodial sentence imposed, in each of the last three years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The available information is given in the following table:

  Persons Aged 16 to 17 Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts, 1998-2000

  

 

Aged 16 
  

Aged 17 
  



1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  



Total proceeded against 
  

3,325 
  

2,806 
  

2,083 
  

8,042 
  

7,084 
  

6,186 
  



Total with a charge proved 
  

2,608 
  

2,193 
  

1,635 
  

6,741 
  

5,848 
  

5,034 
  



Number receiving monetary penalty 
  

1,124 
  

 899 
  

 782 
  

3,322 
  

2,721 
  

2,411 
  



Probation or community service 
  

 610 
  

 542 
  

 340 
  

1,224 
  

1,092 
  

1,008 
  



Custodial sentence 
  

 327 
  

 297 
  

 173 
  

 877 
  

 899 
  

 726 
  



Other sentence 
  

 547 
  

 455 
  

 340 
  

1,318 
  

1,136 
  

 889 
  



Number where sentence was deferred1


 260 
  

 217 
  

 148 
  

1,274 
  

1,128 
  

 852 
  



  Note:

  1. Proceedings where a deferral of sentence was recorded in the disposal information held by the Scottish Criminal Record Office.